Angle

This is the angle of the cutting edges in relation to the horizontal plane. Dovetail cutters have angles ranging from 95 degrees to 110 degrees.

The larger the angle, the more pronounced the dovetail will be, and vice versa.

What size dovetail cutter should you choose?

For many applications, the size of the dovetail cutter will be down to personal preference; however, there are a few things you should bear in mind while selecting:

A greater angle doesn't equal greater strength

Despite what many people say, the strength of a dovetail joint is not affected by the angle of the dovetail. There have even been experiments carried out to prove this!

Ensure it suits the project

Dovetail cutters that produce smaller angles are often chosen when a more "subtle" look is preferred, while larger cutters, and therefore, dovetails, are favoured when users want to ensure their craftsmanship stands out.

Match the cutter to the material

Generally speaking, larger dovetails will be needed to join thicker pieces of material, just as smaller dovetails will be much better suited to thinner, more delicate materials.

Cutter size may be specified

For some applications, such as when using a dovetail jig, a cutter of a certain size must be used, so check the specifications for your particular project.